Winding machine



G. N. TAYLOR WINDING MACHINE June 15 1926.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OCT,- 8, i924 /fiorn gra June 15 ,1926'. 1,588,918

G. N. TAYLOR V WINDING MACHINE il 8, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED l STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE N. TAYLOR, OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVER- SAL WINDING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAS- SACHUSETTS.

WINDING MACHINE.

Application filed October 8, 1924. Serial No. 742,469.

This invention relates to winding machines and particularly to drumor frictionwinders in which the yarn cop or package is driven by frictional contact with a rotating drive-roll or drum.

()no object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of the type specified in which the winding-spindle or cop-holder is caused to move away from the drive-roll in a certain predetermined path, and to be shifted in angular relation thereto during the winding of a conical cop or package, whereby to build the cone with a gradually increasing taper on its periphery and with concavo-convex ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type specified in which by a simple adjustment the builder-motion may be set to regulate the taper'or pitch of the cone within certain prescribed limits.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the machine to adapt it for winding cylindrical or parallelsided cops or packages when required.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify the constructiom of the machine, whereby to economize in its cost of manufacture. and to generally increase its efficiency and render it more convenient of operation.

The following specification describes a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a. portion. of my improved winding machine showing two of the winding-spindles or cop-holders and their associated drive-rolls, and also illustrating the traverse-motion which operates the thread-guides for the whole series of spindles; r

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing one of the spindles of the machine adjusted for winding'cylindrical or parallel-sided cops;

v Fig. 3 is a side view of the spindle sup porting slide or carriageshown in Fig. 2:

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the spindle slide or carriage employed for winding conical packages: and

Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing the adjustable means for setting the cone-holder or spindle to regulate the taper of the ccne being. wound.

My improved machine is designed for construction in gang form? with a plurality of winding units arranged in series along a suitable frame or stand. The frame of the machine is illustrated in fragmentary view in the present drawings, and only the essential operating elements of two winding units are shown in the main vie'w, Fig. 1. Referring to this view, the referencecharacter 2 designates upright frame-members or brackets which may be supported from the frame rails, not shown, and on which are carried bearings 3 for a shaft 4: for rotating the friction driving-drums or drive-rolls 5 arranged in series therealong.

Below the drive-roll shaft 4 is a horizontal cam-shaft 6 which is journaled in suitable bearings not herein shown. Fast on the shaft 6 is a hub 7 carrying a cylindrical cam 8 formed on its periphery with two helical grooves 9 and 10. The grooves 9 and 10 are adapted for engagement with a cam-roll 12 journaled on a traverse-slide 13 which is reciprocable on a traverse-bar or rod 14 mounted in suitable bearings not herein shown. The traverse-harm carries a plurality of thread-guides arranged in series there-along in opposite relation to the driverolls 5, the upper ends of the guides being formed with thread-grooves 16 through which the thread or yarn y leads to the winding-spindle or cop-holder on which it is wound. Preferably, the traverse-mechanism embodies a cam for each thread-guide so that each winding unit is complete in itself. The thread-guides 15 are arranged at the rear of suitable plates or guard-members 17 at the top of which are mounted horizontal rods 18 serving as thread-bails across which the yarn draws as it leads to the guides.

The two grooves 9 and 10 in the cam 8 are of slightly different pitch or lead to provide for regulating the traverse of the threadguides 15 longitudinally of the windingmandrels in accordance with the type of package being wound; one groove 9 being engaged by the roll 12 on the traverse-slide 13 when the machine is employed for winding cones and the other groove 10 being used when the machine is adjusted for winding cylindrical packages. The groove 10 is plotted geometrically in a normal helix having a uniform pitch or lead so that the thread-guides reciprocated therefrom will be given a uniform traverse at a constant rate of speed to deposit the yarn on the cylindrical package in the usual manner. On the other hand, the groove 9 is plotted with a progressively changing pitch or lead. Starting at a point corresponding to the base of the cone to be wound, the pitch is increased toward the apex end of the cone with a ratio of approximately one to two and one-quarter. The effect of this change in lead of the cam-groove will be to accelerate the speed of the thread-guide as it traverses toward the smaller end of the cone with a corresponding retardation in speed towards the base of the cone. The object of this arrangement is to cause the machine to wind on more yarn at the base of the cone than toward its apex to build the package vith a gradually increasing taper on its surface in the manner and for the purpose as hereinafter more fully explained.

The braclrets 2 extend laterally across the rahs of the main frame of the machine and are provided at the center with ledges or supports 19 for a series of vertical standards 20 held thereon by bolts 21. The standards 20 are constructed in the form of substantially fiat plates provided with vertical slots or guideways 22 and 23, serving as tracks on which the mountings or carriages 25 for the winding-spindles or cop-holders slide. Each standard 20 serves as the guidingtrack and support for two opposite carriages or slides 25 which carry separate Windin spindles in position to cooperate with their respective drive-rolls and thread-guides arranged on opposite sides of the machine. That is to say, the gang of machines is arranged with the winding units disposed in two parallel rows or series extending longitudinally of the frame, the winding-spindles and their associated mechanisms being paired on opposite sides of the standards 20. As the winding units on opposite sides of the frame are identical in construction and arrangement, however, it is considered sulficient to herein illustrate and-describethose on one side of the frame only.

The slides or carriages 25 comprise vertical arms 26, see Figs. 1 and 4, having circular hubs or bosses at their opposite ends into which are screwed studs or bolts 27 held by check-nuts 28. The bolts 27 extend from the rear of the standards through the vertical slot 23, with washers 29 under their heads. The bolts 27 fit loosely in the slot 23 with a clearance at either side, and the washers 29 overhang the sides of the slot to hold the carriage against the front face of the standard 20 to adapt it to slide up and down thereon. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 4 that the slot 23 in the standard 20 is widened at the front, and

insects adapted to slide therein are cylindrical rollers 30 freely rotatable on the studs 27. The rollers 30 provide anti-friction bearings at the top and bottom of the carriage 25 to hold the latter from canting while adapting it to slide smoothly on the forward face of the standard 20.

Reaching out from the side of the carriage 25 near its upper end is an arm 32 terminat ing in a hub or boss 33, see Fig. 4, in which is held a forwardly projecting rod or stud 34. The stud 34 serves as the pivotfor rockably suppoi ting the cop-holder mounting to be next described. The mounting 40 for the cone-holder or windingauandrel 5O employed for winding tapered or conical packages, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, comprises a pair of alined hubs 41. 42. see i f 5, which are connected on the under side by an arm 43 having a split bearing or fork at its end. The alined hubs 41. 42 are bored to receive the rod or stud 34 prov 0* the boss 33 on the carriage or n fitted loosely thereon to adapt 40 to rock about the axis of ii; it split collar 45 located between the two hubs 4i and 42, and clamped to the stud by means of a bindingscrew 46, acts to hold the mounting 40 in place while adapting it to pivot on the stud.

Pivoted on a bolt 47 extending through the sides of the forlced bearing 44 of the mounting 40 is a spindle 48 formed with a squared shank 49 adapted to swing in the fork. The spindle 48 is adapted to receive the tapered cone-tube holder 50 which is free to rotate thereon and is held in place by an end bolt 35. 1 may employ a removable wooden cone-holder 50 as a core or support for the yarn package. or, in other cases, the holder may be a permanent part. of the machine and adapted to be expanded to grip the interior of a paper cone-tube on which the winding is performed. The spindle 48 is normally maintained in fixed relation with respect to its support or mounting 40 by means of a spring 51 fastened to the arm 43 by bolts 52, and having a V-shaped detent 53 at its end adapted to engage a rounded notch 54 in the shank 49of the spindle 48. During the winding operation the spindle 48 is held by the spring 51 with its axis in the vertical plane of the axis of the drive-roll 5; but when it is required to apply the cone-holder or cop-tube thereto, or to dofl the completed package therefrom. the spindle is swung outwardly toward the front of the machine to make for greater convenience in these operations. The spring 51. while exerting sufficient force to normally hold the spindle 48 from swinging, yields readily to release its detent from the notch 54 under the leverage on the opposite end of the spindle.

Projecting downwardly at an angle to ries a check-nut 58 on its outer end adaptedthe winding-spindle support or mounting 40, see Figs. 1 and 5, is an arm formed with a threaded hole in a hub 56 at its end. A stud 57 is screwed into the hole and earto be tightened against the hub 56 to lock the stud in place. Referring to Fig. 5, the inner end of the stud 57 is formed with an eccentric crank-pin 59 on which is journalcd a roller 60. The roller .60 is adapted to engage a guiding groove or recessed track 6i cut int-o the face of the standard 20 and extending alongside the main trackway or slot 23. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the groove 61 is inclined away from the vertical toward its upper end. It will therefore be seen that as the carriage 25 slides upwardly on the standard 20 with its rollers 30 travel ing in the slot 23, the follower roller 60 on the arm 55 will travel in the inclined groove 61 to cause the spindle-mounting 40 to rock on the axis of its bearing-stud 34. The effect of this action is to gradually tilt the apex end of the cone-holder 5O downwardly as its recedes from the drive-roll 5 during the winding of the package, the mechanism providing a builder-motion to regulate the taper on the surface of the cone within certain limits as defined by the angle of inclinatiomof the groove 61. The action of the builder-motion will be more fully ex plained hereinafter in connection with the method of operation of the complete machine.

Projecting from the left-hand side of the carriage 25 is an arm 63 terminating at the bottom in a lug 64. The lug 61 is adapted to make contact with the end of a stopscrew 65 held in a lug 66 on an arm 67 fastened to the standard 20. A check-nut 68 on the screw 65 serves to lock it in place and by releasing the nut the screw may be adjusted to hold the carriage with the coneholder 50 bearing on the drive-roll 5 at the start of the winding. The angular relation of the cone-holder 50,with respect to the drive-roll 5 is adjusted to set their peripheries in contact by turning the eccentric stud 57 to adjust the roll 60 in relation to the axis on which the mounting 40 pivots. This adjustment provides for the use of cone-holders of different taper.-that is more or less acute, as required for different types of packages.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, on the righthand side of the carriage or slide 25 is aprojection or lug 69 formed with a hole through which projects a vertical rod 70. The rod TO-extends parallel with the face of the standard 20 and is adapted to slide upwardly through a bearing 71 projecting from the top thereof. The lower end of the rod is connected to release the detent for the stopping-mechanism of the winding unit whereby to arrest the winding operation,

but as this part of the machine does not relate to the present invention it is not herein shown in detail. Suflice it to state that as the carriage 25 rises during the growth of the package on the winding-spindle its lug -69 slides upwardly on the rod 7 O and eventually engages a collar 72 to lift the rod 70 to release the detent for the stopping-means, the collar 72 being adjustable on the rod 70 whereby the mechanism may be set to arrest the winding when the package reaches any desired proportion. I

Fastened to the side of the carriage 25 at the rear of the lug 69 is a vertical bar 75 having ratchet-teeth 76 formed on its side. A pawl 77 pivoted on a bearing on a sta tionary part of the machine is provided with a toe 78 held in engagement with the ratchetbar 75 by suitable means not herein shown. As the carriage 2-3 rises on the standard 20 the pawl 77 engages successively with the teeth 76 on the ratchet 7 5 to prevent retrogressive movement of the winding-spindle in accordance with the known dogging arrangement as usually employed in the art. The pawl 77 further acts as the medium for lifting the carriage to raise the cop or package frorn contact with its drive-roll to arrest the winding operation, being connected with the stopping-mechanism through suitable means which are not herein shown in detail as they form no part of the present invention.

The machine arranged as above described is fitted to wind conical packages, and to, adapt it for winding cylindrical cops requires only the substitution of a few different parts. When a parallel-sided package is to be produced the axis of the winding spindle is maintained parallel with the periphery of the drive-roll 5. To provide for this a different form of spindle-support or mounting is applied to the carriage 25 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. As here shown the mounting 80 comprises alined hubs 81 con nected by an arm 82 which is provided at its end with a fork 83 for receiving the shank 84 of a cylindrical spindle 85. The hubs 81 fit onto the stud 3 t projecting from the front of the carriage 25 and a split engaging a spline in the outer hub '81 of the mounting illustrated in Fig. 3. The cop-holder or winding-mandrel 90, see Fig. 2, is rotatably mounted on the, spindle 85 and adapted to receive the cylindrical paper cop-tube 0 to hold the latter in contact with the drive-r0115 at the start of the winding;

&

suitable means being usually provided for expanding the mandrel to grip the tube to adapt it to rotate therewith.

The method of operation of the machine is as follows:

For winding tapered yarn packages or cones the machine is equipped as illustrated in Fig. l, a tapered wooden core or arbor 50 being mounted to rotate on the windingspindle 4:8, or in other instances a paper tube being applied to a suitable conical mandrel. To start the winding the thread or yarn, indicated at 3 in Fig. 1, is drawn up from its source of supply, not shown, led across the thread-bail 18, thence through the groove 16 in the thread-guide 15 and its end secured to the mandrel or core 50 on which the cop is to be wound, The mandrel 50 is then lowered into the position as illustrated at the left in Fig. 1 to bring its surface into contact with the periphery of the drive-roll 5 which is rotated from the shaft 4 driven continuously from the power-actuated mechanism of the machine. The cam-shaft 6 is also driven continuously to rotate the cam 8 and through the engagement of the roll 12 with the camgroove 9 the thread-guide 15 is traversed back and forth along the mandrel 50. As the mandrel 50 is rotated by contact with the drive-roll 5 the yarn will be deposited thereon in helical turns extending from one end to the other and back again with the coils crossing each other at intervals.

It has been explained that the camgroove 9 is so formed as to effect a traverse of the thread-guide 15 with a gradually accelerated speed as it moves toward the apex end of the cone, and with a retardation in speed as it moves back in the opposite direction. As a result of this action of the guide, therefore, the yarn is laid on the winding mandrel in coils or convolutions having less lead toward the base of the cone, and consequently the yarn is built up faster at this end than at the small end of the cone. This results in a gradually increasing taper on the periphery of the cone as the winding increases in diameter, the purpose being to form the cone with its outer surface tapered to a maximum degree to insure a free delivery of the yarn in unwinding it therefrom.

As the yarn mass builds up at a faster rate toward the base of the cone, with the taper on the surface of the mass gradually increasing, it is obvious that the axis of the cone-holder must be shifted to increase its angle of inclination to the drive-rollto maintain the proper surface contact between the package and the drive-roll. The present improved builder-motion is adapted to regulate and control the relation of the coneholder-with respect to the drive-roll from start to finish of the winding to maintain the axis of the cop at the proper inclination to insure the driving contact, while preventing the yarn from forming ridges on the surface of the cone or from being compacted into too dense a mass at any one point. The

device functions for this purpose as follows:

As the cone-holder 50 is forced upwardly by the accumulation. of yarn in the growing package it will cause the carriage 25 to be slid upwardly on the standard 20 with its rollers 30 traveling in the vertical slot 23. As the carriage 25 moves upwardly the follower-roller 60 on the arm 55 of the coneholder mounting 40 also travels in the inclined groove or trackway 61 in the standard 20, and due to the inclination of the groove its effect is to rock the mounting 40 about the axis of its pivot-stud 34. The inclination of the groove (51 is such that the mounting 40 is rocked to tilt the cone-holder 50 in proportion to the change in taper on the surface of the winding, Fig. 1 illustrating at the left the position of the holder upon the starting of the winding, and at the right its position at or near the completion of the cone where the taper on its surface reaches the maximum. It will also be noted that as the cone-holder is tilted in the manner above explained its butt end is displaced to the left to such an extent that the base of the package is made convex while the apex end becomes correspondingly concaved. This peculiar formation of the ends of the cone is of advantage as preventing the yarn from overrunning at the base of the cone, thus eliminating loose coils or cobwebs which interfere with the delivery of the yarn when it is unwound from the cone.

When it is desired to wind cylindrical or parallel-sided packages the machine is fitted and adjusted as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The cam 8 is shifted to the left along its shaft 6 and the traverse-roll 12 removed from the cam-groove 9 and engaged with the groove 10. The cone-holder mounting 40 is detached from the carriage 25 and the spindlemounting 80 substituted therefor. with the collar 87 applied to the stud 34 to hold the mounting from turning thereon. The winding-spindle 85 will then be held with its axis parallel to that of the drive-roll and by adjusting the stop-screw 65 the carriage 25 is lowered into position to bring the surface of the cop-tube 0 into contact with the periphery of the drive-roll. The machine is now ready for operation and the winding proceeds as previously explained, except that as the carriage 25 rises on the standard 20 the winding-mandrel is maintained constantly parallel with the drive-roll without any rocking motion. The package will therefore be built up in cylindrical form with the yarn laid on its surface in helical coils deposited by the traversing threadguide reciprocated from the uniform camgroove 10.

It will be observed that my invention provides a particularly simple and efficient mechanism for winding either cylindrical or conical packages, in which is embodied a buildenmotion for controlling the move- 'ment of the cone-holder away from the drive-roll whereby to regulate the taper on the surface of the cone and the concavo-convex formation at the ends of the packa e.

While I have herein illustrated an described a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the mechanisms employed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a winding machine, the combination of a cone-holder, a drive-roll for rotating the cone wound on the holder, means for traversing the yarn on the holder, means for pivotally supporting the cone-holder to adapt it to tilt at an angle to the drive-roll and to move away therefrom, and means for positively tilting the cone-holder on its pivot to vary its angle of inclination to the drive-roll during its movement therefrom whereby to regulate the taper on the surface of the cone being wound.

2. In a winding machine, the combination of a winding-mandrel, a drive-roll for rotating the package wound on the mandrel, a thread-guide for traversing the yarn longitudinally of the mandrel, a guideway, a carriage slidable on the guideway, a mounting pivoted on the carriage to support the mandrel while adapting it to rock with respect to the drive-roll, a second guideway, and means engaging the second guideway to rock the mounting to tilt the mandrel to vary its inclination to the drive-roll as it recedes therefrom. J

3. In a winding machine, the combination of a rotatable cone-holder, a drive-roll for rotating the cone wound on the holder, a carriage, a mounting pivoted on the carriage to support the cone-holder therefrom while adapting it to tilt in relation to the driveroll, means to support the carriage to adapt it to move to allow the cone-holder to recede from the drive-roll during the building of the cone, and means operating on the mounting to tilt the cone-holder during its recession from the drive-roll to regulate the taper on the surface of the cone being wound.

4. In a winding machine, the combination of a cone-holder, adrive-roll for rotating the cone wound on the holder, means for traversing the yarn on the holder, a carriage movable with respect to the drive-roll, means for pivotally supporting the cone holder on the carriage to adapt it to tilt with respect to the drive-roll, and means acting on the cone-holder to tilt it on its pivot during its receding movement to vary its inclination to the drive-roll whereby to regulate the taper on the surface of the cone being wound on the holder.

5. In a winding machine, the combination of a rotating drive-roll, a traversing threadguide, a carriage adapted for relative movement with respect to the drive-roll, a coneholder pivoted on the carriage to adapt it to tilt with respect to the drive-roll, a trackway, and a follower engaging the trackway' and acting to tilt the cone-holder as the latter moves away from the drive-roll.

6. In a winding machine, the combination of a rotating drive-roll, a traversing threadguide, a slidable carriage, a cone-holder pivoted on the carriage to adapt it to tilt in angular relation to the drive-roll, an inclined guideway, and a follower engaging the guideway and acting on the cone-holder to control its angular relation with respect to the drive-roll in all positions during its movement with the carriage away from the drive-roll.

' 7. In a winding machine, the combination of a rotating drive-roll, a carriage movable away from the drive-roll, a cone-holder, means for mounting the cone-holder onthe carriage to adapt it to be tilted in angular relation to the drive-roll, and means actuated by the movement of the carriage to tilt the cone-holder thereon to regulate its angular relation to the drive-roll in all posipivotally supported from the carriage to adapt it to tilt with respect to the driveroll, a guideway inclined with respect to the trackway, and means engaging said guidewa and acting on the cone-holder to tilt the utter to regulate its inclination to the drive-roll during its movement there from.

9. In a winding machine, the combination of a rotating drive-roll, a trackway, a carriage travelable on the trackway, a coneholder pivotally supported from the carriage to adapt it to tilt with respect to the driveroll, a guideway, and a follower travelable in the guideway and acting on the coneholder to tilt the latter to gradually increase its inclinationwith respect to the drive-roll during its movement therefrom.

10. In a winding machine, the combina tion of a rotating drive-roll, a standard having a trackway, a carriage, rollers on the carriage travelable 0n the trackway, a mounting pivoted on the carriage, a cone-holder rotatably supported from the mounting an in clined guideway on the standard, and a follower slidable in the guideway and connected to the mounting to cause it to tilt the coneholder to alter its inclination to the driveroll during its movement therefrom.

12. In a winding machine, the combination of a rotating drive-roll, a standard having a guide-slot, a carriage, rollers on the carriage travelable in the guide-slot, a mounting pivoted on the carriage, a coneholder rotatably sup-ported from the mounting, an inclined guiding-groove on the standard, and a roller on the mounting engaging said guiding-groove to rock the mounting to tilt the cone-holder as the latter moves with the carriage away from the drive-roll.

13. In a winding machine, the combination of a rotating drive-roll, a carriage movable away from the drive-roll a stud on the carriage, a mounting pivoted 0n the stud, a cone-holder rotatably supported from the mounting, a follower on the mounting, and

means engaged by the follower during the movement of the carriage to rock the mounting to tilt the cone-holder with respect to the drive-roll as it recedes therefrom.

14:. In a winding machine, the combination of a rotating drive-roll, a carriage movable away from the drive-roll, a mounting pivoted on the carriage, a cone-holder rotion of a rotating drive-roll, a carriage movable away from the drive-roll, a mounting pivotally supported on the carriage, a cone-holder rotatably supported from the mounting, a guideway, a stud on the mounting having an eccentric pin at its end, and a follower-roll journaled on said pin to adapt it to travel in the guideway, said stud being adjustable to regulate the position of the roller with respect to the pivot of the mounting whereby to vary the inclination of the cone-holder with respect to the drive-roll. In testimony whereof I afiix my si nature.

GEORGE N. TAY OR. 

